The debut LP from the formidable scratching DJ, Kid Koala fulfils the fevered critical and public response that greeted his "live" sets and remixes/collaborations with Money Mark, DJ Vadim and Handsome Boy Modelling School. Koala describes his LP as having been "hand-cut": this is music that was made by manipulating his vinyl and record decks--much of it in real-time. A radical approach but Koala is a virtuoso DJ and can use his turntables to generate delicate melody and subtle shades of meaning. "Barhopper 1" is a lurch of drunken, ambient jazz with a nostalgic (perhaps culled from 1950s Hollywood) mix of voices that discuss love, drinking and dating etiquette. The result of the LP is similarly playful, even psychedelic--a collage of spoken-world samples and beatnik and bar-room jazz textures. Koala seems to have created fresh artistic ground for the DJ-musician and made a warm, easy-to-like LP and quite possibly a classic. --Tony Marcus

Please sir, can I have some more?, 03 Feb 2004
Its always the same - an album gets hyped to a stage that no artist can realistically match. Yeah, there may be comparisons with Shadow and RJD2 but those boys provided quality product over numerous tracks. At a little over half-an-hour long, with numerous vocal samples, you can't help but feel a little ripped-off when buying this 'album'. Its great in parts but a few more tracks, offering a truer showcase of Kid's skills, would've been a better reflection of this artist's abilities.

So beaten, cut and scratched that it hurts.... in a good way, 17 May 2003
Well what can i say, eh? The first time i heard/saw kid koala's musical artistry was when i witnessed the video for 'fender bender'. This was quite a while ago, maybe about 2 or 3 years ago. i finally got around to buying the album early this year, solely on hearing that one record which, as a rule, i never do- i have to listen to at least 2 or 3 tracks by an artist before i venture out and get the record or whatever. so, i had no idea what i was gonna be in for. from the first track, i got the impression this could be a well cool record, and, while 'strut hear' only clocks up to about a minute, it sets the base for the rest of this sweeeeeet album. if you wanna hear music being completely butchered up, here's a start to your collection, a fantastic and eclectic array of dirty scratching, crazy cuts and some excellent samples. just one warning.... don't play 'irregular chickens' loud on yer stereo- halfway through, it scared the hell outta me first time i played it! (you'll get what i mean when you buy it). BUY THiS iF YoU WANT To LiSTEN To THE SoUND oF oNE MAN WRECKiNG MUSiC. AND THAT'S NoT A BAD THiNG iN THiS CASE.......... i just can't wait 'til i get 'Nufonia Must Fall' as well now and appreciate mr koala's artwork, seein' as i'm a graphic artist as well as a really keen music enthusiast (and, eventually, music artist.... i'm gettin' there!)

Those Wacky Canadians Never Disappoint!, 29 Mar 2001
if you like good beats, lots of scratching, and have a good sense of humour, this one's for you.

kid koala is a genius!

(be warned that this album is not for everybody, and at times the scratching can become a bit much)

Scratchtastic, 15 Mar 2001
Ignore words like 'novelty' when they are bandied around about the Kid. His scratching is at times breathtaking and his samples are an inherent part of the musical cutting & pasting. The man is truly a hex on the decks and the most ablist of any turntablist.

If you like your music with melody and harmony then stear clear because there is little of that in here. However, the beats and scratches more than make up for it. To use the word dj doesn't do justice to his prowess on the decks. Someone like Judge Jules is a dj, Kid Koala is a record artist (I think that's the most pretentious thing I have ever said, so sorry about that, but I still stand by it). Essentially what I'm saying is Kid Koala = good, inventive, different, challenging; Jules and his ilk = bad, derivitive, tedious, obvious.

He gets sound out of vinyl that no-one else would try and perhaps this is where he annoys other reviewers. The scratch is more important sometimes than the melody or the beat and there is a possible accusation of style over content. However, when your style is this good the only problem with content is that there's not enough - and sadly this album checks in at well under an hour. I'll take quality over quantity every time and Kid Koala delivers high calibre stuff in a short space of time.

This record pushes the boundaries of what djs should do, not in terms of mixing, but with what you can make the vinyl actually do for you. This album has wit and skill coming out of every pore. Try it and you might bow down at the altar of the scratch.

this cd is useless, 08 Jan 2001
I have heard kid koala live and he was amazing so i thought i would buy his album AS YOU DO, when listening to it i was very dissapointed, instead of some dope scratching and phat beats it was just weird noises like something outta the jungle you can't even listen to it without thinking you have been ripped off.

It seems like such a natural progression for French hip-hop to take off--after all, there's only so many MCs out there with anything original to say or a novel way of saying it, so the flow of the rapper's patter is easily as important as what they're rapping about. French, with its cultivated smoothness, sounds beautiful and naturally flows from thought to thought; chanted over beats, the effect can be sublime--even if the listener doesn't understand a word. Though most dedicated hip-hop fans are familiar with MC Solaar, it might be the Saian Supa Crew who spread le message. The SSC are a six-man collective (three MCs, one vocalist and two vocal percussionists, who "sing" sound effects) who have internalized influences from a wide variety of forefathers: the Roots and Jurassic 5, for a wide-open, old-school feel and a respect for hip-hop history; DJ Premier and the Wu-Tang Clan, for the production on "G-Padpo" and "Darkness"; even the playfulness of Prince Paul. It's a lot to display on one album, and some songs work better than others--but there are more than enough winners here. --Randy Silver

Please sir, can I have some more?, 03 Feb 2004
Its always the same - an album gets hyped to a stage that no artist can realistically match. Yeah, there may be comparisons with Shadow and RJD2 but those boys provided quality product over numerous tracks. At a little over half-an-hour long, with numerous vocal samples, you can't help but feel a little ripped-off when buying this 'album'. Its great in parts but a few more tracks, offering a truer showcase of Kid's skills, would've been a better reflection of this artist's abilities.

So beaten, cut and scratched that it hurts.... in a good way, 17 May 2003
Well what can i say, eh? The first time i heard/saw kid koala's musical artistry was when i witnessed the video for 'fender bender'. This was quite a while ago, maybe about 2 or 3 years ago. i finally got around to buying the album early this year, solely on hearing that one record which, as a rule, i never do- i have to listen to at least 2 or 3 tracks by an artist before i venture out and get the record or whatever. so, i had no idea what i was gonna be in for. from the first track, i got the impression this could be a well cool record, and, while 'strut hear' only clocks up to about a minute, it sets the base for the rest of this sweeeeeet album. if you wanna hear music being completely butchered up, here's a start to your collection, a fantastic and eclectic array of dirty scratching, crazy cuts and some excellent samples. just one warning.... don't play 'irregular chickens' loud on yer stereo- halfway through, it scared the hell outta me first time i played it! (you'll get what i mean when you buy it). BUY THiS iF YoU WANT To LiSTEN To THE SoUND oF oNE MAN WRECKiNG MUSiC. AND THAT'S NoT A BAD THiNG iN THiS CASE.......... i just can't wait 'til i get 'Nufonia Must Fall' as well now and appreciate mr koala's artwork, seein' as i'm a graphic artist as well as a really keen music enthusiast (and, eventually, music artist.... i'm gettin' there!)

Those Wacky Canadians Never Disappoint!, 29 Mar 2001
if you like good beats, lots of scratching, and have a good sense of humour, this one's for you.

kid koala is a genius!

(be warned that this album is not for everybody, and at times the scratching can become a bit much)

Scratchtastic, 15 Mar 2001
Ignore words like 'novelty' when they are bandied around about the Kid. His scratching is at times breathtaking and his samples are an inherent part of the musical cutting & pasting. The man is truly a hex on the decks and the most ablist of any turntablist.

If you like your music with melody and harmony then stear clear because there is little of that in here. However, the beats and scratches more than make up for it. To use the word dj doesn't do justice to his prowess on the decks. Someone like Judge Jules is a dj, Kid Koala is a record artist (I think that's the most pretentious thing I have ever said, so sorry about that, but I still stand by it). Essentially what I'm saying is Kid Koala = good, inventive, different, challenging; Jules and his ilk = bad, derivitive, tedious, obvious.

He gets sound out of vinyl that no-one else would try and perhaps this is where he annoys other reviewers. The scratch is more important sometimes than the melody or the beat and there is a possible accusation of style over content. However, when your style is this good the only problem with content is that there's not enough - and sadly this album checks in at well under an hour. I'll take quality over quantity every time and Kid Koala delivers high calibre stuff in a short space of time.

This record pushes the boundaries of what djs should do, not in terms of mixing, but with what you can make the vinyl actually do for you. This album has wit and skill coming out of every pore. Try it and you might bow down at the altar of the scratch.

this cd is useless, 08 Jan 2001
I have heard kid koala live and he was amazing so i thought i would buy his album AS YOU DO, when listening to it i was very dissapointed, instead of some dope scratching and phat beats it was just weird noises like something outta the jungle you can't even listen to it without thinking you have been ripped off.

be careful, 05 Jan 2007
this is a great album. some don't like it but just know that there are two versions of this album. one of the versions has more tracks. why they took off some of the best tracks is a mystry to me but look out for it.

HMMMMMMM........., 26 May 2004
Not overly-impressed by this effort from the sextet that are SSC. Having bought X-Raisons on a recommendation from a mate, I thought this would be another masterful effort when I saw the CD going cheaply. X-Raisons really impressed me with it's musicality and the diversity of rapping styles as well but this is not as impressive. There are some good beats and good rapping but Saian often lose their way. Some tracks start off and you think to yourself 'this is money well spent' only for you to lose interest just half a minute later. The development and progression is often missing from the tracks and some have quite a monotonous feel to them. As always, SSC's rapping skills are there for all to hear but the beats maybe not on this album.

Some may like it but this is not for me. Mach 6 and Cinquieme As have shown that MC Solaar is an artist more capable of sustaining excellent production,lyrics and beats for a long period of time.

Saian really are good, 20 Oct 2002
I bought this album after buying their other album X-raisons. And again i was in no way disapointed. If you liked X-raisons, i suggest buy this. If you don't own X-raisons, buy that. HELL BUY THEM BOTH! The only thing that is bad about this is the skits, which, as they are in french! mean nothing to me. But the rest of the album is great and i even know some of the words, so i can sing along in french, having no clue what I am saying.

French hip-hop group, 21 Jul 2001
This album from french hip-hop group saian supa crew reflects not only the continuous rise of french hip hop originating out of the urban french ghettos but also shows the uprise of beat boxing in todays hip hop story. Tracks such as pitchy and scratchy reflect the masterful skillz of this crew in their beats skillz which throws threat on the well known skillz of 'the roots' in this form of hip hopping. For those who speak french this is a great exploration into the language while at the same time removing the blinkers showing MC Solaar as the one only true french rap artist.

Dexterous, intelligent and strong;how hiphop should be again, 20 Mar 2001
I was in France at the high of the "Angela" craze and fell in love with the Crew then and there. Leeroy, Vicelow, Specta, Feniski, Fly le Mic Buddha and Sir Samuel are fantastic and skilled at MCing and human beatboxing, it seems hiphop needs "un peu de" French influence! People are prejudiced against this because they think French music is all Vanessa Paradis and morose old men with berets and accordions but the songs are so lyrical even if you don't understand them. The celerity and ingenuity of the skits are astounding - beautiful old school beats blended with visionary French verse. The revolution is coming to Britain's shores - Vive le Crew and the renaissance of hiphop!

Please sir, can I have some more?, 03 Feb 2004
Its always the same - an album gets hyped to a stage that no artist can realistically match. Yeah, there may be comparisons with Shadow and RJD2 but those boys provided quality product over numerous tracks. At a little over half-an-hour long, with numerous vocal samples, you can't help but feel a little ripped-off when buying this 'album'. Its great in parts but a few more tracks, offering a truer showcase of Kid's skills, would've been a better reflection of this artist's abilities.

So beaten, cut and scratched that it hurts.... in a good way, 17 May 2003
Well what can i say, eh? The first time i heard/saw kid koala's musical artistry was when i witnessed the video for 'fender bender'. This was quite a while ago, maybe about 2 or 3 years ago. i finally got around to buying the album early this year, solely on hearing that one record which, as a rule, i never do- i have to listen to at least 2 or 3 tracks by an artist before i venture out and get the record or whatever. so, i had no idea what i was gonna be in for. from the first track, i got the impression this could be a well cool record, and, while 'strut hear' only clocks up to about a minute, it sets the base for the rest of this sweeeeeet album. if you wanna hear music being completely butchered up, here's a start to your collection, a fantastic and eclectic array of dirty scratching, crazy cuts and some excellent samples. just one warning.... don't play 'irregular chickens' loud on yer stereo- halfway through, it scared the hell outta me first time i played it! (you'll get what i mean when you buy it). BUY THiS iF YoU WANT To LiSTEN To THE SoUND oF oNE MAN WRECKiNG MUSiC. AND THAT'S NoT A BAD THiNG iN THiS CASE.......... i just can't wait 'til i get 'Nufonia Must Fall' as well now and appreciate mr koala's artwork, seein' as i'm a graphic artist as well as a really keen music enthusiast (and, eventually, music artist.... i'm gettin' there!)

Those Wacky Canadians Never Disappoint!, 29 Mar 2001
if you like good beats, lots of scratching, and have a good sense of humour, this one's for you.

kid koala is a genius!

(be warned that this album is not for everybody, and at times the scratching can become a bit much)

Scratchtastic, 15 Mar 2001
Ignore words like 'novelty' when they are bandied around about the Kid. His scratching is at times breathtaking and his samples are an inherent part of the musical cutting & pasting. The man is truly a hex on the decks and the most ablist of any turntablist.

If you like your music with melody and harmony then stear clear because there is little of that in here. However, the beats and scratches more than make up for it. To use the word dj doesn't do justice to his prowess on the decks. Someone like Judge Jules is a dj, Kid Koala is a record artist (I think that's the most pretentious thing I have ever said, so sorry about that, but I still stand by it). Essentially what I'm saying is Kid Koala = good, inventive, different, challenging; Jules and his ilk = bad, derivitive, tedious, obvious.

He gets sound out of vinyl that no-one else would try and perhaps this is where he annoys other reviewers. The scratch is more important sometimes than the melody or the beat and there is a possible accusation of style over content. However, when your style is this good the only problem with content is that there's not enough - and sadly this album checks in at well under an hour. I'll take quality over quantity every time and Kid Koala delivers high calibre stuff in a short space of time.

This record pushes the boundaries of what djs should do, not in terms of mixing, but with what you can make the vinyl actually do for you. This album has wit and skill coming out of every pore. Try it and you might bow down at the altar of the scratch.

this cd is useless, 08 Jan 2001
I have heard kid koala live and he was amazing so i thought i would buy his album AS YOU DO, when listening to it i was very dissapointed, instead of some dope scratching and phat beats it was just weird noises like something outta the jungle you can't even listen to it without thinking you have been ripped off.

be careful, 05 Jan 2007
this is a great album. some don't like it but just know that there are two versions of this album. one of the versions has more tracks. why they took off some of the best tracks is a mystry to me but look out for it.

HMMMMMMM........., 26 May 2004
Not overly-impressed by this effort from the sextet that are SSC. Having bought X-Raisons on a recommendation from a mate, I thought this would be another masterful effort when I saw the CD going cheaply. X-Raisons really impressed me with it's musicality and the diversity of rapping styles as well but this is not as impressive. There are some good beats and good rapping but Saian often lose their way. Some tracks start off and you think to yourself 'this is money well spent' only for you to lose interest just half a minute later. The development and progression is often missing from the tracks and some have quite a monotonous feel to them. As always, SSC's rapping skills are there for all to hear but the beats maybe not on this album.

Some may like it but this is not for me. Mach 6 and Cinquieme As have shown that MC Solaar is an artist more capable of sustaining excellent production,lyrics and beats for a long period of time.

Saian really are good, 20 Oct 2002
I bought this album after buying their other album X-raisons. And again i was in no way disapointed. If you liked X-raisons, i suggest buy this. If you don't own X-raisons, buy that. HELL BUY THEM BOTH! The only thing that is bad about this is the skits, which, as they are in french! mean nothing to me. But the rest of the album is great and i even know some of the words, so i can sing along in french, having no clue what I am saying.

French hip-hop group, 21 Jul 2001
This album from french hip-hop group saian supa crew reflects not only the continuous rise of french hip hop originating out of the urban french ghettos but also shows the uprise of beat boxing in todays hip hop story. Tracks such as pitchy and scratchy reflect the masterful skillz of this crew in their beats skillz which throws threat on the well known skillz of 'the roots' in this form of hip hopping. For those who speak french this is a great exploration into the language while at the same time removing the blinkers showing MC Solaar as the one only true french rap artist.

Dexterous, intelligent and strong;how hiphop should be again, 20 Mar 2001
I was in France at the high of the "Angela" craze and fell in love with the Crew then and there. Leeroy, Vicelow, Specta, Feniski, Fly le Mic Buddha and Sir Samuel are fantastic and skilled at MCing and human beatboxing, it seems hiphop needs "un peu de" French influence! People are prejudiced against this because they think French music is all Vanessa Paradis and morose old men with berets and accordions but the songs are so lyrical even if you don't understand them. The celerity and ingenuity of the skits are astounding - beautiful old school beats blended with visionary French verse. The revolution is coming to Britain's shores - Vive le Crew and the renaissance of hiphop!

Surely not another gallic rap sensation?!, 24 Jun 2002
With the now normal ripple of critical acclaim a new French Rap collective burst onto the scene, again trying to bridge 'La manche' between the highly sucessful french hiphop market and the english speaking world.
Following the likes of MC Solaar and The Saian Supa Crew, TTC do not disappoint. With a sound not too dissimilar to a indie rap acts like Clouddead and The Anti-Pop Consortium, especially on tracks like 'Pas D'Armure' and 'Subway', TTC display a facet in French hiphop I hadn't yet seen.
With twisted squeaks and beats throughout and some great stripped down production, like the synth hook on 'Pollutions' , the general feel of this record is slightly eerie and odd. In this respect it could be quite hard going for some, especially in the more downbeat sections. As the title of the record suggests, it is a bit of a weird one.
This is well worth getting but like lots of the best intelligent records it will require a bit of perseverance to get your reward.

Please sir, can I have some more?, 03 Feb 2004
Its always the same - an album gets hyped to a stage that no artist can realistically match. Yeah, there may be comparisons with Shadow and RJD2 but those boys provided quality product over numerous tracks. At a little over half-an-hour long, with numerous vocal samples, you can't help but feel a little ripped-off when buying this 'album'. Its great in parts but a few more tracks, offering a truer showcase of Kid's skills, would've been a better reflection of this artist's abilities.

So beaten, cut and scratched that it hurts.... in a good way, 17 May 2003
Well what can i say, eh? The first time i heard/saw kid koala's musical artistry was when i witnessed the video for 'fender bender'. This was quite a while ago, maybe about 2 or 3 years ago. i finally got around to buying the album early this year, solely on hearing that one record which, as a rule, i never do- i have to listen to at least 2 or 3 tracks by an artist before i venture out and get the record or whatever. so, i had no idea what i was gonna be in for. from the first track, i got the impression this could be a well cool record, and, while 'strut hear' only clocks up to about a minute, it sets the base for the rest of this sweeeeeet album. if you wanna hear music being completely butchered up, here's a start to your collection, a fantastic and eclectic array of dirty scratching, crazy cuts and some excellent samples. just one warning.... don't play 'irregular chickens' loud on yer stereo- halfway through, it scared the hell outta me first time i played it! (you'll get what i mean when you buy it). BUY THiS iF YoU WANT To LiSTEN To THE SoUND oF oNE MAN WRECKiNG MUSiC. AND THAT'S NoT A BAD THiNG iN THiS CASE.......... i just can't wait 'til i get 'Nufonia Must Fall' as well now and appreciate mr koala's artwork, seein' as i'm a graphic artist as well as a really keen music enthusiast (and, eventually, music artist.... i'm gettin' there!)

Those Wacky Canadians Never Disappoint!, 29 Mar 2001
if you like good beats, lots of scratching, and have a good sense of humour, this one's for you.

kid koala is a genius!

(be warned that this album is not for everybody, and at times the scratching can become a bit much)

Scratchtastic, 15 Mar 2001
Ignore words like 'novelty' when they are bandied around about the Kid. His scratching is at times breathtaking and his samples are an inherent part of the musical cutting & pasting. The man is truly a hex on the decks and the most ablist of any turntablist.

If you like your music with melody and harmony then stear clear because there is little of that in here. However, the beats and scratches more than make up for it. To use the word dj doesn't do justice to his prowess on the decks. Someone like Judge Jules is a dj, Kid Koala is a record artist (I think that's the most pretentious thing I have ever said, so sorry about that, but I still stand by it). Essentially what I'm saying is Kid Koala = good, inventive, different, challenging; Jules and his ilk = bad, derivitive, tedious, obvious.

He gets sound out of vinyl that no-one else would try and perhaps this is where he annoys other reviewers. The scratch is more important sometimes than the melody or the beat and there is a possible accusation of style over content. However, when your style is this good the only problem with content is that there's not enough - and sadly this album checks in at well under an hour. I'll take quality over quantity every time and Kid Koala delivers high calibre stuff in a short space of time.

This record pushes the boundaries of what djs should do, not in terms of mixing, but with what you can make the vinyl actually do for you. This album has wit and skill coming out of every pore. Try it and you might bow down at the altar of the scratch.

this cd is useless, 08 Jan 2001
I have heard kid koala live and he was amazing so i thought i would buy his album AS YOU DO, when listening to it i was very dissapointed, instead of some dope scratching and phat beats it was just weird noises like something outta the jungle you can't even listen to it without thinking you have been ripped off.

be careful, 05 Jan 2007
this is a great album. some don't like it but just know that there are two versions of this album. one of the versions has more tracks. why they took off some of the best tracks is a mystry to me but look out for it.

HMMMMMMM........., 26 May 2004
Not overly-impressed by this effort from the sextet that are SSC. Having bought X-Raisons on a recommendation from a mate, I thought this would be another masterful effort when I saw the CD going cheaply. X-Raisons really impressed me with it's musicality and the diversity of rapping styles as well but this is not as impressive. There are some good beats and good rapping but Saian often lose their way. Some tracks start off and you think to yourself 'this is money well spent' only for you to lose interest just half a minute later. The development and progression is often missing from the tracks and some have quite a monotonous feel to them. As always, SSC's rapping skills are there for all to hear but the beats maybe not on this album.

Some may like it but this is not for me. Mach 6 and Cinquieme As have shown that MC Solaar is an artist more capable of sustaining excellent production,lyrics and beats for a long period of time.

Saian really are good, 20 Oct 2002
I bought this album after buying their other album X-raisons. And again i was in no way disapointed. If you liked X-raisons, i suggest buy this. If you don't own X-raisons, buy that. HELL BUY THEM BOTH! The only thing that is bad about this is the skits, which, as they are in french! mean nothing to me. But the rest of the album is great and i even know some of the words, so i can sing along in french, having no clue what I am saying.

French hip-hop group, 21 Jul 2001
This album from french hip-hop group saian supa crew reflects not only the continuous rise of french hip hop originating out of the urban french ghettos but also shows the uprise of beat boxing in todays hip hop story. Tracks such as pitchy and scratchy reflect the masterful skillz of this crew in their beats skillz which throws threat on the well known skillz of 'the roots' in this form of hip hopping. For those who speak french this is a great exploration into the language while at the same time removing the blinkers showing MC Solaar as the one only true french rap artist.

Dexterous, intelligent and strong;how hiphop should be again, 20 Mar 2001
I was in France at the high of the "Angela" craze and fell in love with the Crew then and there. Leeroy, Vicelow, Specta, Feniski, Fly le Mic Buddha and Sir Samuel are fantastic and skilled at MCing and human beatboxing, it seems hiphop needs "un peu de" French influence! People are prejudiced against this because they think French music is all Vanessa Paradis and morose old men with berets and accordions but the songs are so lyrical even if you don't understand them. The celerity and ingenuity of the skits are astounding - beautiful old school beats blended with visionary French verse. The revolution is coming to Britain's shores - Vive le Crew and the renaissance of hiphop!

Surely not another gallic rap sensation?!, 24 Jun 2002
With the now normal ripple of critical acclaim a new French Rap collective burst onto the scene, again trying to bridge 'La manche' between the highly sucessful french hiphop market and the english speaking world.
Following the likes of MC Solaar and The Saian Supa Crew, TTC do not disappoint. With a sound not too dissimilar to a indie rap acts like Clouddead and The Anti-Pop Consortium, especially on tracks like 'Pas D'Armure' and 'Subway', TTC display a facet in French hiphop I hadn't yet seen.
With twisted squeaks and beats throughout and some great stripped down production, like the synth hook on 'Pollutions' , the general feel of this record is slightly eerie and odd. In this respect it could be quite hard going for some, especially in the more downbeat sections. As the title of the record suggests, it is a bit of a weird one.
This is well worth getting but like lots of the best intelligent records it will require a bit of perseverance to get your reward.

Brilliant but flawed, 20 Jan 2006
Saian Supa Crew have got to be one of the finest hip hop outfits on the planet. Insane flows, brilliant ragga-fuelled beats and superb, inventive beatboxing all combine to make them a world class act. This "International Version" of their second album, X-Raisons, contains the biggest hits off the album, plus some excellent collaborations with International artists such as Roots Manuva and Kymani Marley. So why only 2 stars? Well sadly they let themselves down by parroting Buju Banton's offensive "Boom Bye-Bye" on the collaboration with Grand Puba. If there's a difference between racist bigots and homophobic bigots, I can't see it. It's a shame that the same can't be said of Saian Supa Crew.

It's a great disappointment that a crew I had long respected turn out to be so small-minded and bigoted.

x many reasons to buy it, 22 Aug 2003
if you like early wu; redman; ludacris; busta etc then you'll like this even if you can't understand a single word. that said it does have some english speaking featured artists on it including britain's best roots manuva on 'hey yo my man'. it's also got some of the best beats i've heard all year especially the kick off track 'the beat'. similar in sound to red and meth's 'blackout'. just buy it.

There's a refreshing sense of originality to Kardinal Offishall's approach to hip-hop as Fire: Firestarter, Vol 1 proves. Unlike many of his Canadian rap contemporaries--Choclair and the Rascalz, for example--Kardinal makes no attempt to sound like he's from the wilds of Brooklyn, Queens, or Atlanta instead of his native Toronto. In fact, he's one of the few Canadian MCs who makes Toronto's unique cultural mash-up an integral part of his sound.

Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 is as much a dancehall reggae album as a hip-hop record, with Kardinal bringing out his West Indian background on roots thumpers like "Ol' Time Killin'" and "Go Ahead Den". Handling most of the album's production himself, the rough-voiced MC also veers into R&B on "Powerful," comedy on "UR Ghetto 2002," racial politics on the stirring "Man by Choice," and hip-hop pop on "Husslin'". And for those not familiar with the T-Dot, Kardinal also breaks down Toronto hip-hop lingo on the anthemic "BaKardi Slang". It's slick, but not in a cloying, saccharine way. While Kardinal's obviously shooting for international attention, that's not coming at the expense of his original sound. An impressive debut for an artist who has come to define Canadian hip-hop. --Matt Galloway

Please sir, can I have some more?, 03 Feb 2004
Its always the same - an album gets hyped to a stage that no artist can realistically match. Yeah, there may be comparisons with Shadow and RJD2 but those boys provided quality product over numerous tracks. At a little over half-an-hour long, with numerous vocal samples, you can't help but feel a little ripped-off when buying this 'album'. Its great in parts but a few more tracks, offering a truer showcase of Kid's skills, would've been a better reflection of this artist's abilities.

So beaten, cut and scratched that it hurts.... in a good way, 17 May 2003
Well what can i say, eh? The first time i heard/saw kid koala's musical artistry was when i witnessed the video for 'fender bender'. This was quite a while ago, maybe about 2 or 3 years ago. i finally got around to buying the album early this year, solely on hearing that one record which, as a rule, i never do- i have to listen to at least 2 or 3 tracks by an artist before i venture out and get the record or whatever. so, i had no idea what i was gonna be in for. from the first track, i got the impression this could be a well cool record, and, while 'strut hear' only clocks up to about a minute, it sets the base for the rest of this sweeeeeet album. if you wanna hear music being completely butchered up, here's a start to your collection, a fantastic and eclectic array of dirty scratching, crazy cuts and some excellent samples. just one warning.... don't play 'irregular chickens' loud on yer stereo- halfway through, it scared the hell outta me first time i played it! (you'll get what i mean when you buy it). BUY THiS iF YoU WANT To LiSTEN To THE SoUND oF oNE MAN WRECKiNG MUSiC. AND THAT'S NoT A BAD THiNG iN THiS CASE.......... i just can't wait 'til i get 'Nufonia Must Fall' as well now and appreciate mr koala's artwork, seein' as i'm a graphic artist as well as a really keen music enthusiast (and, eventually, music artist.... i'm gettin' there!)

Those Wacky Canadians Never Disappoint!, 29 Mar 2001
if you like good beats, lots of scratching, and have a good sense of humour, this one's for you.

kid koala is a genius!

(be warned that this album is not for everybody, and at times the scratching can become a bit much)

Scratchtastic, 15 Mar 2001
Ignore words like 'novelty' when they are bandied around about the Kid. His scratching is at times breathtaking and his samples are an inherent part of the musical cutting & pasting. The man is truly a hex on the decks and the most ablist of any turntablist.

If you like your music with melody and harmony then stear clear because there is little of that in here. However, the beats and scratches more than make up for it. To use the word dj doesn't do justice to his prowess on the decks. Someone like Judge Jules is a dj, Kid Koala is a record artist (I think that's the most pretentious thing I have ever said, so sorry about that, but I still stand by it). Essentially what I'm saying is Kid Koala = good, inventive, different, challenging; Jules and his ilk = bad, derivitive, tedious, obvious.

He gets sound out of vinyl that no-one else would try and perhaps this is where he annoys other reviewers. The scratch is more important sometimes than the melody or the beat and there is a possible accusation of style over content. However, when your style is this good the only problem with content is that there's not enough - and sadly this album checks in at well under an hour. I'll take quality over quantity every time and Kid Koala delivers high calibre stuff in a short space of time.

This record pushes the boundaries of what djs should do, not in terms of mixing, but with what you can make the vinyl actually do for you. This album has wit and skill coming out of every pore. Try it and you might bow down at the altar of the scratch.

this cd is useless, 08 Jan 2001
I have heard kid koala live and he was amazing so i thought i would buy his album AS YOU DO, when listening to it i was very dissapointed, instead of some dope scratching and phat beats it was just weird noises like something outta the jungle you can't even listen to it without thinking you have been ripped off.

be careful, 05 Jan 2007
this is a great album. some don't like it but just know that there are two versions of this album. one of the versions has more tracks. why they took off some of the best tracks is a mystry to me but look out for it.

HMMMMMMM........., 26 May 2004
Not overly-impressed by this effort from the sextet that are SSC. Having bought X-Raisons on a recommendation from a mate, I thought this would be another masterful effort when I saw the CD going cheaply. X-Raisons really impressed me with it's musicality and the diversity of rapping styles as well but this is not as impressive. There are some good beats and good rapping but Saian often lose their way. Some tracks start off and you think to yourself 'this is money well spent' only for you to lose interest just half a minute later. The development and progression is often missing from the tracks and some have quite a monotonous feel to them. As always, SSC's rapping skills are there for all to hear but the beats maybe not on this album.

Some may like it but this is not for me. Mach 6 and Cinquieme As have shown that MC Solaar is an artist more capable of sustaining excellent production,lyrics and beats for a long period of time.

Saian really are good, 20 Oct 2002
I bought this album after buying their other album X-raisons. And again i was in no way disapointed. If you liked X-raisons, i suggest buy this. If you don't own X-raisons, buy that. HELL BUY THEM BOTH! The only thing that is bad about this is the skits, which, as they are in french! mean nothing to me. But the rest of the album is great and i even know some of the words, so i can sing along in french, having no clue what I am saying.

French hip-hop group, 21 Jul 2001
This album from french hip-hop group saian supa crew reflects not only the continuous rise of french hip hop originating out of the urban french ghettos but also shows the uprise of beat boxing in todays hip hop story. Tracks such as pitchy and scratchy reflect the masterful skillz of this crew in their beats skillz which throws threat on the well known skillz of 'the roots' in this form of hip hopping. For those who speak french this is a great exploration into the language while at the same time removing the blinkers showing MC Solaar as the one only true french rap artist.

Dexterous, intelligent and strong;how hiphop should be again, 20 Mar 2001
I was in France at the high of the "Angela" craze and fell in love with the Crew then and there. Leeroy, Vicelow, Specta, Feniski, Fly le Mic Buddha and Sir Samuel are fantastic and skilled at MCing and human beatboxing, it seems hiphop needs "un peu de" French influence! People are prejudiced against this because they think French music is all Vanessa Paradis and morose old men with berets and accordions but the songs are so lyrical even if you don't understand them. The celerity and ingenuity of the skits are astounding - beautiful old school beats blended with visionary French verse. The revolution is coming to Britain's shores - Vive le Crew and the renaissance of hiphop!

Surely not another gallic rap sensation?!, 24 Jun 2002
With the now normal ripple of critical acclaim a new French Rap collective burst onto the scene, again trying to bridge 'La manche' between the highly sucessful french hiphop market and the english speaking world.
Following the likes of MC Solaar and The Saian Supa Crew, TTC do not disappoint. With a sound not too dissimilar to a indie rap acts like Clouddead and The Anti-Pop Consortium, especially on tracks like 'Pas D'Armure' and 'Subway', TTC display a facet in French hiphop I hadn't yet seen.
With twisted squeaks and beats throughout and some great stripped down production, like the synth hook on 'Pollutions' , the general feel of this record is slightly eerie and odd. In this respect it could be quite hard going for some, especially in the more downbeat sections. As the title of the record suggests, it is a bit of a weird one.
This is well worth getting but like lots of the best intelligent records it will require a bit of perseverance to get your reward.

Brilliant but flawed, 20 Jan 2006
Saian Supa Crew have got to be one of the finest hip hop outfits on the planet. Insane flows, brilliant ragga-fuelled beats and superb, inventive beatboxing all combine to make them a world class act. This "International Version" of their second album, X-Raisons, contains the biggest hits off the album, plus some excellent collaborations with International artists such as Roots Manuva and Kymani Marley. So why only 2 stars? Well sadly they let themselves down by parroting Buju Banton's offensive "Boom Bye-Bye" on the collaboration with Grand Puba. If there's a difference between racist bigots and homophobic bigots, I can't see it. It's a shame that the same can't be said of Saian Supa Crew.

It's a great disappointment that a crew I had long respected turn out to be so small-minded and bigoted.

x many reasons to buy it, 22 Aug 2003
if you like early wu; redman; ludacris; busta etc then you'll like this even if you can't understand a single word. that said it does have some english speaking featured artists on it including britain's best roots manuva on 'hey yo my man'. it's also got some of the best beats i've heard all year especially the kick off track 'the beat'. similar in sound to red and meth's 'blackout'. just buy it.

this cd is MADDD!!, 16 Apr 2002
i am so glad that there is more west indian musik rippin up d scenes out there, besides Digable Planets, this is some great west indian tunes here. big up to d WI crews, yuh dun no!

exceptional artist, 22 Oct 2001
Kardinal is one of the most talented mc's to have graced the scene,coming straight out of Canada this mc has some of the most relevent lyrics i have ever heard,he has an opinion and shows that hip hop is not only a progression of music but a political progression songs such as "Man by Choice" and "U R Ghetto 2002" show that the emcee reflects on life and his personal opinions.
"Powerfull" and "Money Jane" are both very catchy as is all of the record,its full of fantastic lyricism an album with 14 great tracks,who says you need QUANTITY because this album is all QUALITY.

exceptional artist, 22 Oct 2001
Kardinal is one of the most talented mc's to have graced the scene,coming straight out of Canada this mc has some of the most relevent lyrics i have ever heard,he has an opinion and shows that hip hop is not only a progression of music but a political progression songs such as "Man by Choice" and "U R Ghetto 2002" show that the emcee reflects on life and his personal opinions.
"Powerfull" and "Money Jane" are both very catchy as is all of the record,its full of fantastic lyricism an album with 14 great tracks,who says you need QUANTITY because this album is all QUALITY.